Looking into the Future: The Top 10 Changes for the American Church
6. Inclusive
Church is often viewed by outsiders as exclusive. The idea that 11:00 a.m. on Sunday is the most segregated hour of the week has been commonplace for decades.
Bouncer (commercial shown above, permission granted to repost) is one of many effective television commercials created by the United Church of Christ that seek to counter the cultural expectation that few are truly welcome at church with an inclusive message that all are welcome. The ad shows a bouncer deciding who may enter a church and who may not and is followed by printed words “Jesus didn’t turn people away. Neither do we.” The ad concludes with the words “The United Church of Christ – no matter who you are or where you are on life’s journey you’re welcome here.”
The church must seek to not only become more inclusive insofar as who is welcome, but also who is empowered to serve in ministry.
So What?
How well does your church seek to welcome people?
- How similar or dissimilar are the demographics of your church’s worshiping community to those of the larger community within a few miles of your campus?
- Does your congregation contribute to the ongoing cultural belief that 11:00 a.m. on Sunday is the most segregated hour of the week or does it actively work to model multi-ethnic community where the unity is in Christ?
- Are there groups within your local community who would feel unwelcome if they visited your primary weekly worship service(s)?
- How would your church need to change if it sought to embody the message “Jesus didn’t turn people away and neither do we”?
- For those who are already an active participant, do all feel empowered to serve in ministry utilizing gifts and passions or does the congregational culture preclude certain types of people from serving in certain leadership roles?